Letters on Womanhood: Abuse & Assault

“Catholic women, I must pose an uncomfortable question: Have you ever endured a pain so great that it emptied you of your faith? If your honest answer is yes, you are not alone. In fact, this letter is being written especially with you in mind."

"At 16-years-old, I was raped by a boy who decided that he could determine my worth. For two and a half years, I plunged into a deep darkness. ...I was ashamed and I remember wondering how the Lord could possibly love me like this…”

“Every single day during the years I was abused, I went to daily mass. Even though I felt numb, I continued to go. I gazed upon the purity and love of Jesus, hidden within the white host, and I prayed that He would keep me safe there, with Him.”